ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dropped nine positions in the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index, now ranking 137th out of 166 countries with a concerning score of 57.02. This marks a continued decline from its previous rankings of 128th in 2023 and 125th in 2022.
Among the 17 SDGs, progress has stalled or worsened across most areas. Three goals have regressed: Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Significant challenges persist for five goals, while seven goals are facing serious issues.
Despite these setbacks, some progress, albeit limited, has been observed in a few areas. Goals showing improvement, though still facing challenges, include Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
However, limited progress amid considerable challenges has been reported for Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).
The Sustainable Development Goals Index and Dashboard, published annually by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute of European Environmental Policy, evaluates countries’ performances in achieving the Global Development Agenda 2030.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
